Toronto Tempo end 12-game losing skid with win over Portland Fire in Vancouver

VANCOUVER — The Toronto Tempo ended a 12-game losing skid with an 82-79 comeback victory over the Portland Fire in Vancouver on Friday. Isabelle Harrison led the Tempo (11-25) with 25 points and 10 rebounds, while Laura Juskaite added 15 points, four assists, and seven rebounds. Canadian Bridget Carleton scored 18 points for the Fire (15-21), and Megan DiLeo contributed 14 points. The Fire took a 21-8 lead early, but Toronto fought back, outscoring Portland 9-2 in the final three minutes of the first half to tie the game at 44-44. The Tempo took the lead on a Juskaite jumper 2:21 into the third quarter, then pulled away with a series of big buckets, including Harrison’s layup through traffic. Portland fought back late, going up 76-75 on an Emily Engstler three-pointer, but Toronto rallied again, winning with Harrison sinking two free throws in the final seconds. Injuries affected the Tempo, with guard Brittney Sykes (left foot), forward Aneesah Morrow (left knee), and leading scorer Marina Mabrey (right adductor) missing the game. Toronto was also without Maria Conde (left calf) and Nyara Sabally (left calf). The Tempo are now 2-1 in their Cross-Canada series, having won and lost at Montreal’s Bell Centre last month with a crowd of 20,996. The Fire struggled with foul trouble in the second quarter and poor shooting in the third, with Portland’s field goal percentage at 39.7%. The Fire shot 82.4% from the line. Toronto out-rebounded Portland 43-41, improving to 7-6 in the rebound battle. Up next, the Tempo host the Las Vegas Aces in Vancouver on Sunday, while the Fire face the Washington Mystics.